Ange Postecoglou is on the brink of a golden title success.
The Aussie’s team are champions in all but name after a sweeping fightback win over Hearts in front of a jubilant Parkhead crowd.
On-loan striker Ellis Simms stunned the hosts with an early opener before Postecoglou’s side displayed the attacking power which has taken them to glory to blast Robbie Neilson’s men aside.
Daizen Maeda equalised and Kyogo Furuhashi put Celtic into the lead before half-time and a Matt O’Riley strike after the break finished it. Sub Giorgos Giakoumakis added a fourth in the final seconds to really get the party going.
Mathematically, Celtic could still be caught on points by Rangers and overhauled on goal difference.
Realistically, there’s no chance.
Twelve months after meekly failing in their bid for Ten in a Row, Celtic are back on top.
Postecoglou has masterminded a magnificent campaign with an outstanding new-look side which has been too strong for their rivals to resist.
It’s been a phenomenal turnaround and Celtic have fully deserved it.
Unbeaten in the Premiership since last September, it has been a power-packed success and this victory just summed up their effort.
Hearts didn’t turn up to roll over and went in front inside just four minutes when Simms smashed home an opener.
The striker was alert in the box to finish crisply after the home team didn’t deal with a delivery into the box and an assistant’s flag didn’t go up.
Simms headed another chance without power to Joe Hart before Celtic came to their senses and roared back to clinch the flag in style.
David Turnbull, back in the starting line-up, was thwarted by a brilliant Craig Gordon block and Kyogo didn’t get a header right from the midfielder’s cross.
Gordon saved again from Kyogo before the equaliser arrived. Hearts wanted a foul for a challenge on Toby Sibbick, but the hosts escaped and Jota made a superb run to cut through the backline before squaring a pass to Maeda.
The Japanese had to check his stride, but still planted a finish beneath Gordon to level and his countryman had Postecoglou’s men in the lead by the break.
O’Riley wriggled to the byeline and hung a cross up for Jota to attack. The Portuguese won it and Kyogo headed the knockdown for the target.
Gordon clawed the ball back, but it was too late and assistant referee Dougie Potter told referee Don Robertson the ball was over the line.
Scotland’s World Cup darts winner John Henderson was on the park at half-time showing off his trophy and Celtic went for the final double.
O’Riley came so close when, after his first effort was blocked, he rifled a right-foot shot against a post with Gordon stranded.
However, the next chance he got, the midfielder made no mistake at the end of a classic counter attack.
Reo Hatate clipped a pass to fellow sub Liel Abada who broke forward and found Jota.
The Portuguese picked Greg Taylor’s overlapping run and the left-back delivered to the far post.
O’Riley took one touch to bring the ball down and a second to drive into the far corner beyond a helpless Gordon.
That was that. The party had started. Jota was denied a fourth by an offside flag, but it was over and Giakoumakis rifled a fourth at the near post after a cross by sub James Forrest.
Celtic’s players celebrated with their fans at full-time. The statisticians say it isn’t over, but it is. A 10th title in 11 years has been secured.
Here's three talking points from Parkhead
Captain Phenomenal
Callum McGregor has been an inspirational leader for Celtic throughout this campaign and his influence was again evident at just the time when his team needed it to be. At 1-0 down, he got on the ball, he took control and got his team going. It may have been a foul on Sibbick, but his hunger to hunt the ball back brought the equaliser and that was typical of his ability to turn the tide.
Ell of a hitman
Robbie Neilson is keen to keep Ellis Simms at Tynecastle for a second loan spell after an excellent second-half of the season on a temporary deal from Everton. Simms has been outstanding since his transfer and scored his seventh goal for the Gorgie outfit in the opening stages. The Goodison Park kid could be a huge player in the Scottish Cup Final and also into next term for the Jambos.
Trophy is in the post
Ange Postecoglou wasn't able to get his hands on the silver due to mathematics, but the moment is coming very soon and this was another day where his footballing principles and philosophies came to fruition. Attacking play with a punch at the end and goals scored by three of the signings who have absolutely lit up the league in the shape of Maeda, Furihashi and O’Riley. It’s been an incredible transformation in mood around a club in the past 12 months and it’s down to the Aussie.
